Fire Safety Management

The owner/manager of a premises to which Section 18 of the Fire Services Act, 1981 and 2003, applies shall carry out the following:

1. Take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire on such premises,
2. Provide reasonable fire safety measures for such premises and prepare and provide appropriate fire safety procedures for ensuring the safety of persons on such premises,
3. ensure that the fire safety measures and procedures referred to in paragraph (b) are applied at all times, and
4. ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire whether such outbreak has occurred or not.

Fire Wardens 

In carrying out your duties, we would advise that you appoint personnel as Fire Wardens throughout the premises. Their duties would involve:

• General fire prevention throughout the building.
• Ability to correctly use all types of fire extinguishers.
• Assist in the running of fire evacuation drills.
• Assist disabled, elderly and young people to evacuate the premises.
• Ensuring that areas are checked during an evacuation and that all doors are closed
• Assist in quickly identifying if persons are missing at the assembly point.

Each area of the building should be covered by a Fire Warden. Suitable training should be provided for any Fire Wardens appointed.

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Fire Safety Register

A Fire Safety Register shall be maintained on the premises. The following information shall be maintained in the form of a Fire Safety Register:

1. The names of responsible managers and staff.
2. The dates and times and details of fire evacuation drills, including any problems associated with the evacuation procedure.
3. Details of training undertaken and persons who delivered training,
4. The type, location and number of fire protection appliances including extinguishers, hose reels, hydrants, fire alarms, emergency lighting etc. Relevant certificates and drawings should be included and each item should be uniquely identifiable.
5. The dates of inspection and maintenance of all fire protection equipment along with details of defects and action taken to remedy such defects, and by whom. Relevant certificates should be included
6. The dates of inspection or maintenance of any items within the premises that may result in a higher fire risk in the event that the item is damaged.

Guidance is provided in in the following document issued by the Department of the Environment in February, 1989.

• Code of Practice for the Management of Fire Safety in Places of Public Assembly

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Maintenance of escape routes

• All escape routes shall be unobstructed and shall be available for use at all times.
• Escape routes shall be clearly sign posted and illuminated.
• Routes shall be clear of storage, internally and externally.
• Upholstered furniture shall not be placed in escape routes.
• Floor coverings shall not provide a slip or trip hazard on escape routes.
• Fire doors on escape routes shall be kept closed (unless on hold-open device).

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Fire alarm - IS 3218- 2013

• Daily:
  • Check panel and log any faults.
• Weekly:
  • At least one head or call-point is activated.
  • Printers shall be checked that there are adequate reserves for 2 weeks.
  • Record of test shall be entered into the log book.
• Quarterly:
  • Check log book and address any issues.
  • Check and test batteries.
  • At least one head or call-point (up to 25%) within each zone is activated.
  • Visual check of the entire system.
  • Competent person shall complete test certificate as per Annex D1
• Annual
  • Check each detector (if not checked during quarterly checks).
  • Visual check of the entire system.
  • Competent person shall complete annual test certificate as per Annex D1 and display Annex D2.

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Emergency lighting - IS 3217 - 2013

• Weekly

  • LED is lighting in each luminaire
  • Record and address any faults.
• Monthly
  • A functional test to ensure lamps are working.
• Quarterly
  • Each luminaire should be lit for at least 30 minutes.
  • All luminaires examined during test.
  • Results logged as per Annex C7.
• Annual
  • Complete annual test.
  • Competent person shall complete test certificate as per Annex C6.

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Fire extinguishers - IS 291 - 2015

• Monthly

  • Check that extinguishers are in their designated place.
  • Access and visibility is unobstructed.
  • Seals and tabs are unbroken.
  • Pressure indicators show the correct pressure.
  • Extinguisher is not visibly damaged or has any defects.
  • Maintenance record label is in order.
• Annual
  • Inspection recorded on Label and certified as per Annex B.

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Electrics

• Should be tested and certified by a competent person. Refer to "Guidance –Note on Periodic Inspection and testing of electrical installations" by the Health & Safety Authority.

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Electromagnetic releases

• Should be checked 6 monthly & annually to BS7273-4-2015

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Maintenance checks frequency

Furnishings - Shall be resistant to small ignition sources. All furnishings and fittings in Public Assembly buildings shall comply with "Code of Practice for Fire Safety of Furnishings and Fittings in Places of Assembly"

Dry risers - shall be certified annually in accordance with BS 9990-2015.

Fire hydrants -  if they are on-site then they should be checked every 6 months and certified annually in accordance with BS 9990-2015.

Maintenance checks for on-site sprinkler systems, ventilation systems and other systems are required and should be maintained in accordance with the appropriate standard. Further information can be obtained from the installers of the equipment or the Fire Authority.

Note

This document contains examples of fire safety equipment, inspection, maintenance and testing. The list is not exhaustive but conversely, not every building will need every item listed, and the responsible person needs to take into account the particular circumstances of his/her individual building.